Some 2,000 homeless and hungry people are scheduled to receive Thanksgiving meals Thursday in downtown San Diego, courtesy of the Salvation Army and around 350 volunteers.
Doors are set to open at 11:30 a.m. for the organization’s 31st annual Thanksgiving event at Golden Hall. Mayor Kevin Faulconer and his family are scheduled to be among the volunteer servers.
The Salvation Army has been providing holiday meals to the hungry in San Diego since 1887.
It was the late philanthropist Joan Kroc who first brought the feast to Golden Hall in 1983. According to the Salvation Army, she wanted to sponsor a large community event so no one would have to spend the holiday alone.
Plenty of food will be available to consume, including 800 pounds of turkey, 500 pounds of dressing, 140 pounds of butter, 500 pounds of green beans, 400 pounds of mashed potatoes, 40 gallons of gravy, 185 dozen dinner rolls, 275 pumpkin pies — enough for 2,000 slices, 100 gallons of coffee, 2,000 half-pints of milk and 60 gallons of lemonade, according to the Salvation Army.
Also Thursday, the Thanksgiving Day Run for the Hungry will be held at 7 a.m. to benefit Jewish Family Service and the San Diego Food Bank. The 5K and 10K races will begin at 225 Broadway Circle.
At 7:15 a.m., the 13th annual Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk will take place, with more than 10,000 participants set to run and raise money for homeless adults, children and veterans. The course begins at the San Diego Museum of Man in Balboa Park.
The Helen Woodward Animal Center will host its inaugural Family Mile Fun Run at 8 a.m. at the Del Mar Racetrack to raise money for its therapeutic riding program. Jockeys from the fall racing season at Del Mar are scheduled to participate.
If you need to get a jump on holiday shopping, many major chains plan to open Thursday. Kmart will be open all day beginning at 6 a.m., Big Lots! opens at 7 a.m. and Radio Shack at 8 a.m.
Chains opening in the evening include Walmart, Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, JC Penney, Kohl’s, Michael’s, Old Navy, Sears, Sports Authority, Target and Toys ‘R’ Us.
— City News Service
